This week has been a gloomy one so far, as Israel news outlets shared sad news about the execution-style deaths of six Israeli hostages in Gaza. The world has been angered and saddened by the horrific actions of Hamas. It looks like there is no hope of a cease-fire in the future between Hamas and Israel.
Tel Aviv News has shared the anger and shock of the victim’s families as they protest with hundreds of other citizens in the streets of Tel Aviv. Some have also protested at the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli citizens and world leaders alike are angered by the Prime Minister’s lack of action. Netanyahu’s defiance and quest for revenge have revealed his true character.
- Prideful
- Vengeful
- Disrespectful
Tel Aviv news is flooded with negative reactions to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s response to the Hamas attacks. There have been calls from Israelis and world leaders for Benjamin Netanyahu to resign.
The whole world anxiously awaits a cease-fire between Israel and Palestine which controls the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. As I write this, there is breaking news as Israel attacks targets in Lebanon. After over 20 years of fighting Hamas, many wonder if there will ever be rest and peace in the area (Psalm 4:7-8.)
What is Rest?
We live in a restless world today; rest means different things to different people and regions. The dictionary defines rest as, “A bodily state characterized by minimal function or activity; state of motionlessness or inactivity, peace.”
Since the fall in the garden, this world has been restless and full of chaos (Genesis 3: 17.) The longer this world lasts, the worse things will get (2 Timothy 3:1-17.) The world hasn’t obeyed God since the fall.
God’s people are called to be different and God promises to give them rest and peace in a world of chaos and war (Romans 15:23, 2 Corinthians 2:13-14, Philippians 4:6, Hebrews 4:1-11, 1 Peter 5:7.) The apostles remembered their Jewish upbringing and education about the rest God gives.
Nûaḥ
Rest is both a spiritual and physical concept. After the fall the ancient world was thrown into chaos because it was cursed, God promised to give His people rest if they obeyed Him (Deuteronomy 28:1-8, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 91:1-2, Isaiah 40:29-31.) God’s people’s rest is not like the “rest” of the world.
The main Hebrew word used in the Old Testament for rest is Nûaḥ, which can also mean “Remain, set, or cease,” depending on the context.
The Torah explains how God gave us the model of how our labor and rest work together (Genesis 1:1-31.) Below is the order God created everything.
- Light
- atmosphere/firmament
- Ground and plants
- The sun, moon, and stars
- Birds and sea creatures
- Animals and humans
- Rest
The New Testament continues to emphasize the importance of rest. Jesus promises to give His followers peace and rest in this crazy world (Matthew 11:29-30, Mark 2:27, John 16:33.) At one point while His Disciples were panicking about a storm they encountered while in a boat, Jesus woke up and rebuked the winds, then went back to sleep.
Another time during one of their missions, Jesus took the disciples away from the crowd to get some rest, even Jesus knew that ministry can be overwhelming (Mark 6:31.) Jesus knew our flesh and this world are at war with God’s Spirit and the kKingdom of God (Matthew 26:41.)
Ukraine Russian War
For over two years now, Russia has been attacking Ukraine to reclaim the country as part of the former Soviet Union. Even before the 2022 invasion, Ukraine’s history was intertwined with attacks and threats by Russia.
In 2014 the Donbas War began as Ukraine fought back against Russia-backed separatists for control of Donetsk and Luhansk. Ever since the region hasn’t had rest or peace. The battle wages on today as Russia continues to attack cities across Ukraine to achieve Vladimir Putin’s quest to restore the U.S.S.R to prominence; that is the only reason for the Ukraine and Russia war. We can see how evil is trying to spread in this corrupt world we live in.
- Greed
- Pride
- Uncompassionate
As long as we serve the pride of the flesh, we will never be at rest. The pressures of this life work against the peace of God (Ephesians 5:1-9; 6:10-18.) God’s people cannot look for peace and hope in the temporary things of this world.
The great Charles Spurgeon said, “If you rest on the finished work of Jesus you have already the best evidence of your salvation in the world; you have God’s word for it; what more is needed?” God’s people must put their hope and trust in God alone because only He can give us true nûaḥ!
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